Late Tuesday afternoon, El Paso's new Triple-A baseball team will have a new name -- Aardvarks, Buckaroos, Chihuahuas, Desert Gators or Sun Dogs.

The team, which will feature the highest level of minor league baseball, has not yet made an official announcement, but representatives from the new Pacific Coast League franchise have contacted a number of youth baseball teams, inviting them to "an event" Tuesday afternoon at the Plaza Theatre. The little boys and girls, perhaps future Triple-A players, have been asked to wear their jerseys and caps and to be at the Plaza by no later than 4 p.m., with the event beginning at 4:30 p.m.

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The Triple-A team's general manager, Brad Taylor, confirmed that there would be an event Tuesday, but would only say, with a laugh, "Everybody stay awake and get ready for the fun to come."

This has been a step-by-step process. The groundbreaking for the new Downtown stadium was May 30 -- with a group of youth baseball players present and in uniform. The five finalists for the team's nickname were announced June 20 and El Pasoans had until midnight June 27 to cast their vote for the name.

The new team's Pacific Coast League schedule was released Aug. 19. El Paso will open its season next spring in Reno, Nev., taking on the Reno Aces on April 3. The team will play in Tacoma, Wash., on April 7-10. And then on April 11, El Paso will face Reno at home -- new team, new name, new stadium.

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Earlier this week, the team rented a pair of billboards, proclaiming, "They're Coming," and showing a pair of creative eyes staring out at motorists.

"They didn't tell us what the event is for," said Cielo Vista Optimist Club Commissioner Gregory Siewert. "They just invited our kids to be there and said it was by invitation only. I think this is really neat, if that is what they are doing ... announcing the name of the team. Absolutely, I'm happy for our kids to have the opportunity to be there when they do that. I just hope we can get a lot of them and get them over there right after school. But this is great."

The Cielo Vista Optimist Club league has approximately 240 young boys and girls in its summer league.

Victor García coaches the 10-and-under Sand Sharks.

"I think this is great, that our kids get the chance to be among the first in the city to learn the team's new name," García said. "I'm hoping we can get a good turnout. I'll be calling all our kids, hoping to get them there. The whole atmosphere will be special and I think it's something our kids will really enjoy."

By next Tuesday afternoon, that new team will finally have a name, an identity ... something to put on caps and sweatshirts and T-shirts.

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